Yamaha Alpha Review

With the Success of the Ray-Z, Ray ZR and the Fascino Yamaha was set out to make another splash into the Scooter segment. Now they did not want just a few add ons to the existing scooters, rather came out with an all new design in 2016 with he Alpha. Just like the Ray ZR is the premium Ray z. The Yamaha Alpha is the more premium Fascino. Difference being the ZR looks quite a bit like the Z but the Alpha does not look anything like the Fascino. Just like ht Z was targeted at women, the ZR for Swag, the Fascino for style the Alpha is for the family oriented people. The tagline for the Alpha is “Kuch Alpha Karo”. What does it even stand for let us see.

Yamaha Alpha Price

Well considering the price it is approx INR 5000 less than its sibling the Fascino, is it value for money just for the size and a bit more bling as the engine capacity remains the same at 110 cc.

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Yamaha Alpha Top Speed

The Alpha attains a top speed of 85 km/h which is similar to other scooters in its class and price point. The advantage it has is thanks to the Yamaha DNA it is stable even at such speeds which most scooters are not.

Yamaha Alpha Dimensions

Considering its longer length and wheelbase it is still same weight as the Ray-Z. Yamaha seems to always have a trick up its sleeve. Sadly the ground clearance seems low and ends up hitting on speedbreaker even if they aren’t too high. This is one aspect Yamaha desperately needs to work upon. As the ride i quite soft thanks to the softer suspension and more movement.

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Yamaha Alpha Design 

In the 2017 model Yamaha has tried to move a bit to the sportier side. The grill has a thick chrome strip that appears like a smile. And the indicators on each side looking like eyes. There is a Yamaha logo on the chrome strip and looks like the nose and there front panel is matte black. Seems like a face to me. The  matter black panel blends well with the all matte black alloys for both front and back with a matte black exhaust. The telescopic front forks is a nice move and Yamaha is providing your money’s worth and wait what do I see there? Disc brake. Yes,, this scooter finally gets disc brakes.

The inner side of the front panel does not get bottle holder like the Fascino but gets a 12v charging port which adds a nice touch. Yamaha has given enough space on the foot board. This is kind of rare of scooters of this proportion. Even the seat is long and has a lot of cushioning. Yamaha claims a best in class 21L storage space below the seat. The grab rail too is long and looks like a well designed spoiler and has good space for your hands. There is also a hook to mounts bags below the seat.

The instru-cluster is still analogue. The Alpha name is in calligraphic vinyling . I am still trying to figure with so many advances why is the headlamps clear and the tail lamp is not. There is reflectors on the glass but the nice touch is that it has a touch of black shade. The mirrors have chrome too.

Yamaha Alpha Colours

The Alpha is available in the following colours.

• Blazing Blue
• Radiant Cyan
• Marvel Black
• Cocktail White
• Blooming Red

It’s black and its marvel. What else could I ask for.

Yamaha Alpha Specifications

With the same cc as the Fascino and similar bhp the Alpha does not lack in performance. Being one kg more and bit bigger proportions the Alpha has managed to keep the performance in check. With decent amount of torque, the 8 Nm torque helps you get off the line rather easily at signals. And good part is as quick as it is, it also stops well thanks to the disc brake in front.

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Yamaha Alpha Mileage

Yamaha has given a 5.2 litre fuel tank size and it feels great as every ml counts. Yamaha claims an efficiency of 62 Km/l which is an excellent figure to claim. With that tank size an easy of 250 kms can be done with ease. That is a good run for those looking for daily commute.

Yamaha Alpha Ride and Handling.

Yamaha bikes have always been good handlers. Even with the size difference Yamaha increased the weight yet it won’t affect the handling. It is not as agile is the Ray-ZR but feels far more superior than the scooters out there. Under the footboard the base is curved typical of Yamaha design and that is a good design option as the chances of it brushing the corners is way less. The front suspension is telescopic making it even more agile and flickable.

The response to the twist of the accelerator is perfect and there is no lag. The low centre of gravity helps in boosting confidence. Yamaha has made another outstanding machine and the legacy goes on. The only draw back I see is that due to the softer suspension the low ground clearance can be a pain on speed brakers. The narrow handlebars make this an excellent option in traffic despite its longer wheelbase. A big thank you to Yamaha for adding disc brake. It is a blessing.

Summary

Unfortunately, here the design is not very appealing to all. Yamaha has scored well again in terms of performance and mileage. Yamaha finally answered my cry for disc brake. A vibration free engine and a good throttle response the Alpha has a tick to almost all its checkboxes. It’s time Yamaha launch the Beta and Omega.